Tanned sponge



WILLIAM H. ALLEN, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ATANNED SPONGE.

1,336,806. No Draiving.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michi an, have invented a new and Improved Ianned Sponge, of which the following is a specification. This invention consists in so treating ordinary sponges of commerce, which are the remains or skeletons of animal'life obtained from the bottom of the sea, as to make them more durable and also capable of Withstandin the effects of hot Water. Heretofore, a sott velvety texture has usually been desired for sponges to be used for the toilet, wear and tear being secondary consideration, and little attention was paid to the sponges which were used in the arts. But the increased demand for large sponges for cleaning purposes, especially for automobiles, has made the wearing qualities of sponges a matter of prime importance, particularly in view of the gradual depletion of the source of supply. e

I have found that when sponges are tanned that they become quite tough, that they withstand wear and tear to a very much higher degree than in their natural state and that they are not so greatly affected by hot water.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, chromium salts,

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed September13, 1919. Serial No. 323,631.

Sponges are washed and rinsed, and while still web are placed in the tanning bath. IVhile practically every bath which will tan leather seems to be useful for this purpose to a greater or less degree, I have obtained the best eifects by using a solution of basic preferably basic chromium sulfate, and while the strength of the bath may be varied, a one per cent. solution seems to be suflicient.

After being soaked in this solution for about twenty-four hours, the sponges are taken out and washed thoroughly, then dried and marketed.

The physical or chemical action of the bath on the sponges is not definitely known to me, but the result is very apparent for the sponges acquire increased resiliency and greatly increased tensile strength and also resist wear to a much greater degree. The treated sponge is greenish in color.

I claim 1. A tanned sponge.

2. A sponge treated with soluble chromium salts and which retains combined chromium in insoluble form because of such treatment.

WILLIAM. .H. ALLEN. 

